On the occasion of the visit to Benin of the Speaker of the Senate of Canada from 6 to 9 March 2024, the Embassy of Canada to Benin organised, on Thursday 7 March 2024, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation of the Republic of Benin, a round table on Artificial Intelligence. The event was co-chaired by the Minister of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, Ms Aurelie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU, and the Speaker of the Senate of Canada, Ms Raymonde GAGNÉ.
The adoption by Benin in January 2023 of a National Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Strategy (SNIAM) puts the country in a strong position to seize current and future opportunities in artificial intelligence and big data processing, which would make it even more attractive for all types of investment, particularly from the private sector and development partners. In recent years, Canada has strengthened its leadership in AI research and commercialisation, and several renowned Canadian companies and universities in the field have shown their interest in working with Beninese stakeholders in this sector.
During the round table, which brought together players from Benin's digital sector, entrepreneurs from Benin and Canada, representatives of Parliament and academia, and a delegation led by the Speaker of the Canadian Senate, participants explored opportunities for collaboration between the two States, particularly between companies from both countries.
Convinced that international collaboration is needed in the face of the rise of AI, Raymonde GAGNÉ reaffirmed Canada's readiness to share its expertise in this area with its Beninese partners. Minister Aurelie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU sees this round table as an important event for Benin, which intends to seize every opportunity to make progress in this sector. “This round table offers a timely opportunity to strengthen the bonds of cooperation in this field between our two States,” she said, before reiterating Benin's determination to promote inclusive and sustainable development in the field of AI by ensuring a participatory, transparent and ethical approach.